Yes, the traditional college format is inefficient, and over priced. The correct format would use a combination of professor taught online courses, in class hands on work, also overseen by the professor, and tutoring by grad students for those who need extra help. Also, colleges require additonal courses that are not part of what you are there to study. Students are required to take these unnecessary (to you) additional courses because it is a means of adding money to the college's bank account. This is a rip off. If you choose to pass on the unnecessary (to you) courses then you can continue your studies, but as a non metriculating student, so you won't get a degree/certificate. Only students who take the cash cow courses along with the ones they need for their area of study are allowed to get a degree.
Another problem is the invisible professors. Parents and students check out colleges and find out what "great" professors will be teaching the needed courses. In actual fact, much of the time grad students or under professors are teaching the course while the prof is doing research, writing a book, on sabatical, etc. Telling people they will be taught by well known Mr. Famous, when in fact they will be taught by Jane or John Smith is fraudulent.
Yet another problem is the teaching of courses by profs and other staffers who have no real world experience in the subject. Another rip off. Courses should be taught by people who have actual experience in the subject.
And how about the emphasis on careers that are not in real demand, and/or no real income potential. Most of the Liberal Arts careers fit this description. Most people going on to college would be better off going to a vocational college to get hands on teaching and training in real work. Although you won't get rich quick in these jobs, you will do well enough in them. Besides, how rich are you going to get in a Liberal Arts type of career, when there aren't many good paying jobs in those fields available now?
Then there are the junk courses, like basket weaving, Women's Studies (Is there a Men's Studies course out there?),
TV watching courses, etc. These are things people can do on their own time. Colleges should not be wasting their--and your--money, facilities, and time on these junk courses.
Granted, privately owned colleges/universities can do what they want. However, the tax payers are paying for state colleges, and the stock holders are paying for publicly owned places. The tax payers and stock holders have a right and a duty, to get after the colleges, and straighten them out. Unfortunately, they have been neglecting this duty. Some influence could even be wielded against privately owned schools, as most if not all of them accept tuition from government grants, government loans, and scholarship programs. But again, people who have the power, and the duty, to demand accountability are asleep on the job.
The situation stinks. Unfortunately, don't hold your breathe waiting for it to change. The colleges have a lot of your money in their accounts that they use in their lobbying efforts. They are not lobbying on your behalf, but on their own.
If I were headed to college now, I would either do it online, or go to a vocational school. Avoid the Liberal Arts rip off system.
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away.--Henry David Thoreau
01 Jun 2012, 6:30 am
